Occupy Wall Street

By: Jasmine Wright&

Davon Holmes

Time Line of events June 9,2011: Canadian anti-consumerist magazine ad buster registers the domain name occupywallstreet.org July 13, 2011: Ad busters calls for a September 17 protest, where “20,000 people flood into lower Manhattan, setup tents,

Kitchens, and occupy wall street for a few months demanding “ democracy not coporatocracy. August 2 – with the "debt-ceiling deadline" of midnight August 2 drawing near a group calling itself "New Yorkers Against Budget

Cuts "chose August 2 to incorporate a "General Assembly" with another group holding a strategy session for OWS. The two groups join in a demonstration at the Charging Bull sculpture, which stands in Bowling Green park in Lower Manhattan, at 4:30 p.m.

September 17 – The first day of the OWS gathering. An estimated 1,000 people attend on the first day. Officers of the New York City Police Department (NYPD) prohibited protesters from erecting tents, citing loitering rules

September 20 – Police arrest mask-wearing protesters, using a law which bans masked gatherings unless part of "a masquerade party or like entertainment".

September 24 – At least 80 arrests are made by the NYPD after protesters begin marching uptown, forcing the closure of several streets

September 27 – An OWS afternoon march merged with a rally by postal workers protesting against a five-day delivery week. NYC Councilman Charles Barron visited Zuccotti Park and announced his support for OWS. Later, Dr. Cornel West spoke at the park and opened the daily General Assembly

October 5 – An estimated 5,000 to 15,000 demonstrators marching from lower Manhattan's Foley Square to Zuccotti Park. The march is mostly peaceful until after nightfall, when some demonstrators are arrested after 200 people storm barricades blocking them from Wall Street

October 13 – Mayor Bloomberg told demonstrators they would need to clear Zuccotti Park for it to be cleaned. The NYPD issued a statement saying that the protesters would no longer be allowed to keep sleeping equipment in the area

October 16 – President Obama extended support for the protesters. and the White House issued a statement saying Obama is working for the interests of the 99%

October 26 – Hundreds of OWS protesters marched near Union Square in support of Iraq War veteran and Occupy Oakland protester Scott Olsen who was in intensive care after being hit by a police-fired projectile

Time line of events November 15 – Occupy Wall Street' At about 1am, NYPD began to clear Zuccotti Park. City Councilman Ydanis Rodriguez is

reported to have been arrested when he and a group of other protesters tried to push their way through a line of police officers who were trying to prevent additional protesters from entering the park

November 17 – More than 30,000 demonstrated in and around Zuccotti Park, Union Square, Foley Square, the Brooklyn Bridge, and other locations through the city. A retired Philadelphia police captain, Ray Lewis, protested while wearing his uniform. He was arrested and charged with civil disobedience

December 20 – Anonymous exposes the personal information of police officers who have evicted OWS protesters; John Adler, president of the Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association, said that revealing such information might allow criminals to seek retribution against police.

January 3 – Approximately 200 Occupy protesters performed a flash mob at the main concourse of New York's Grand Central Terminal, in protest against President Obama's signing into law of a defense act that the protesters perceived as detrimental to civil liberties. Three people were arrested for disorderly conduct during the flash mob.

March 17 – Occupy Wall Street demonstrators attempted to reoccupy Zuccotti Park to mark the movement's six month anniversary, but they were soon cleared away by police, who made over 70 arrests

March 24 – During an anti-police brutality march, 10 protestors were arrested. During a protest held outside of the United Nations headquarters, 4 were arrested

September 17 – Occupy Wall Street held protests during its one year anniversary, resulting in 70 arrests

PERCIEVED INJUSTICE? 99% represents most of the American workers who are working class and

middle-class income earners who have lost their jobs and their homes because of the brokers and bankers and lack of regulation and oversight by federal agencies .These workers are paying more income tax than many wealthy people and even corporations.

Many of the brokers reinvested the money into their portfolios instead of giving it back to the community.

The protests was almost as big as the Vietnam protests. The 99% are getting run over by our government because bankers are

running the country.

Action!!

Protestors were marching everywhere at one park the streets had to close down and at least 80 arrests

The groups uploaded a video on YouTubethreatening wall street. The protestors marched across the Brooklyn bridge and more than 700 arrests Were made. Aside from arrest on felony charges, the protestors were

charged with; disorderly conduct, resisting arrest, and obstruction of government administration.

Is it an example of civil disobedience??

In our opinion, actions that break existing laws are historically a crucial element of civil disobedience.

That’s why its call disobedience, when a law is wrong when it hurts rather than help people because the people that make laws are human, just like anyone they can make mistakes.

Its not important just to break these laws, but it is also important to violate them. You have to do it in a way that makes it completely clear of why its being done.

Success!!

Obviously, occupy wall street captured much needed attention and sparked interests: It engaged many people who have not much been involved with politics.

It also created a new language: The movements iconic slogan “We are the 99 percent” was not only powerful but it was moving as well. It was a very memorable statement.

Occupy wall street also raised free speech questions: Occupy Wall Street protester Malcolm Harris was arrested last year during a demonstration on the Brooklyn Bridge. He has since become an important name in a precedent-setting court case about free speech and social media.

Thoreau’s concept

Thoreau's concept Civil Disobedience" is an analysis of

the individual’s relationship to the state that focuses on why men obey governmental law even when they believe it to be unjust.

"Civil Disobedience" was Thoreau’s response to his 1846 imprisonment for refusing to pay a poll tax that violated his conscience.

Occupy wall street Protestors didn’t think it was fair that

they had to pay higher taxes than those that were wealthier than them. This was unjust.

The protestors response was the “occupy wall street”.